Commission orders RFQ for stormwater engineering after staff could not find a signed contract with prior consultant

The Town Commission on Feb. 19 directed the town manager and town attorney to issue a formal request for qualifications (RFQ) for professional stormwater engineering services after staff and several commissioners concluded the town did not have an executed contract with an engineering firm currently doing significant stormwater work.

Commissioners said records searches and prior meeting minutes suggested the town outsourced stormwater design work but lacked a finalized, executed contract for continuing services. The commission instructed staff to prepare an RFQ under the Florida consultant competitive-negotiation process and to circulate it to firms. The town attorney said the RFQ process typically takes 60–90 days from publication to contract negotiation and award.

To avoid interrupting ongoing stormwater projects, the commission also approved a temporary approach: staff may issue individual purchase orders or short emergency task orders to allow critical work to continue while the RFQ proceeds. Commissioners asked staff to make the interim procurement method transparent and limited in scope and value, and to return with a timeline for the RFQ and any recommended contract term upon vendor selection.

The motion instructing staff to prepare the RFQ and to arrange interim purchase-order authority passed unanimously. Commissioners emphasized the need for clear documentation of the town’s files and a written notice to any incumbent firm to produce project records and drawings so the town has an auditable project record during any transition.